Chapter 29: Dad's Red-Faced Confidante

Huh? How did you end up here? Did I forget to lock the door? Or…

Just as she was lost in thought, a clear female voice rang out.

Xie Lingyu snapped back to attention, hastily wiping away her tears; the sorrow in her eyes was instantly replaced by a stern aura. As the boss of Yuning Clothing Group, once one of the top two apparel companies in the industry, her powerful female executive presence immediately surfaced.

She turned around and looked behind her; the two women in the photo, who almost shared a single face, were standing right behind her.

At that moment, that woman stared at her with a bewildered expression.

Yes, they really are twins.

Xie Lingyu suddenly realized she had been mistaken just now.

How could she shed tears so easily? That would make her seem weak.

Indeed, love is like a battlefield; she couldn't afford to lose her aura. Thinking this, she lifted her chin and gave the twin women across from her a cold, aloof look.

"Heavens, what a beautiful lady!" Seeing a woman suddenly appear in her home, and so gorgeous, Yuchun was instantly dazed.

"Yeah, she's good‑looking, has a particularly strong aura, very stylish." Jingrou felt the same, but oddly, the woman who had suddenly appeared seemed to dislike them both.

"Why are you two here?" Xie Lingyu coldly eyed the two women opposite her, speaking word by word in a detached tone: "To get in here you need the door's password. Who are you? Why are you here?"

The implication was that she, too, had entered using the password?

"Huh?" Yuchun looked toward the door and realized—she hadn't forgotten to lock it after all!

After a moment's pause, she hurriedly pulled Jingrou aside and whispered, "Jingrou, this is serious."

"What's up with you looking like you're facing a great enemy?"

Jingrou asked, completely bewildered.

"I think I know who she is." Yuchun said solemnly: "She has the password to Dad's villa, and she's gorgeous—just look at her outfit today; she's clearly here to seduce someone."

"Seduce someone?" Jingrou startled, then grasped Yuchun's meaning and gasped, quickly lowering her voice: "Could she be Dad's red‑faced confidante?"

"Definitely." Yuchun snapped her head toward the woman, muttering dissatisfiedly: "I used to wonder why, with Dad so rich, he wouldn't have a woman by his side—but that woman actually has the password to his villa. It's infuriating."

Yuchun was full of jealousy.

"Yuchun, take it easy," Jingrou urged as she saw the situation. "The fact that Dad gave her the villa password shows she carries some weight with him."

The elder sister has always been hot‑tempered; when displeased, she might grab a broom and kick someone out on the spot.

"It's fine, don't worry—I won't resort to violence against her."

Saying that, Yuchun gave a sly little smile, turned to face Xie Lingyu, and smiled sweetly.

"This woman is clearly hiding a knife behind her smile."

Xie Lingyu's heart fluttered under Yuchun's gaze; she steadied herself, crossed her arms before her chest, and gave the two women opposite a cold, aloof look, saying detachedly: "No matter how you've seduced Xiao Ming, I advise you two to get out before I lose my temper."

"Get out?" Yuchun laughed heartily and retorted, "Auntie, what gives you the right to tell us to scram?"

Xie Lingyu nearly exploded with anger.

This woman actually called her "auntie"?

She was on the verge of breaking.

She was about to burst from rage.

No one had ever made her this furious before; she trembled all over, her breathing heavy.

"Qualifications? Do you want qualifications?"

Xie Lingyu gave a cold snort, about to flare up, but recalling Xiao Ming's domineering manner, she wavered a bit and put on a brave front: "I'm Xiao Ming's closest confidante—does that count as enough qualification?"

"Maybe in the past, but not anymore. From now on, we two sisters will be the ones closest to him; you're destined to be a thing of the past." Yuchun deliberately lifted her chin, speaking arrogantly, saying things that would make Xie Lingyu misunderstand.

"Hmph." Xie Lingyu snorted derisively, her attitude icy as she glared at the two girls, her aura surging: "You claim to be Xiao Ming's closest people—do you really think you can so easily take my place?"

"How long have you two been by his side? Let me tell you—I've been by his side for sixteen years, accompanying him for sixteen years. His hardships and glories have all been walked through step by step with me; when he works overtime late into the night, I'm the one keeping him company; when he's sick and hospitalized, I'm the one who stays to care for him."

"Basically, all the clothes he wears are designed by me."

"And did he tell you two what deep significance this villa holds for him?"

Yuchun had originally made up her mind to drive this woman away, but she hadn't expected Xie Lingyu's words to shock her.

Including Jingrou, they were both stunned into standing still, gazing with complex emotions at the imposing woman opposite.

"What profound meaning does this villa have?"

Yuchun and Jingrou looked at each other, and both felt an inexplicable sourness in their noses.

Over these years, not only in their lives has their father been severely absent.

In their father's life, as his children, they have likewise been severely absent.

These years, they have never been able to keep each other company, to give each other warmth.

If it weren't for this woman's words opposite them, they would never have properly pondered this question, nor known how their father had gotten through these years on his own.

As they thought, the two sisters suddenly felt a wave of sorrow.

"Hmph." Xie Lingyu gave a derisive snort and continued: "He never told you, did he? This villa was bought with Xiao Ming's first earned money. Later he bought many houses, any one of them fancier than this place, but he still cherishes this spot the most, often coming here to stay when he has nothing else to do."

"As for me, I'm Xiao Ming's closest confidante; when he's not here, I often come to this place. Besides him, over these years I've been the only one qualified to come and go here."

Having finished explaining the relationship, Xie Lingyu said warningly: "So, no matter what means you two used to get his consent to live here, I warn you—don't indulge in foolish fantasies of coveting things that don't belong to you, or even people."

"You'd better know your place…" Xie Lingyu wanted to add more, hoping to make the two sisters wisely scram.

"Waa waa waa…" Before Xie Lingyu's threatening words were finished, one of the two sisters suddenly burst into tears.

Xie Lingyu was dumbfounded!

As Yuchun listened, she suddenly turned and hugged Jingrou, bursting into tears: "Little sis, I suddenly feel so guilty toward Dad!"